Allegations of shoddy implementation of central schemes in Meghalaya
SHILLONG, Feb 4: The State BJP has accused the NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government of denying information sought through the Right to Information (RTI) to cover up the shoddy implementation of the central schemes in Meghalaya.
BJP vice-president and Tura MDC, Bernard N Marak stated on Sunday that the government was busy in cover-ups and not replying. “We have filed so many RTIs but many departments like Basin Development, PHE, and PWD do not reply.”
He said the PWD, in response to a request for information regarding implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), had instead requested in a letter that the BJP pay Rs 1.5 lakh for the documents.
“Whenever we file an RTI, we always ask them to reply in the electronic format then also they do not give the information. They send us a letter stating we have to pay the sum just for the papers. In an indirect way, the government is discouraging activists from filing RTI applications.”
He said they have been waiting for months without hearing back, stressing that ideally a response should be provided within 30 days.
According to Marak, “Information (Contd on P-4)
BJP slams govt for denying…
(Contd from P-1) is supposed to be provided upon filing an RTI; however, if the government is not sincere enough to provide the information, what good is filing the RTI?”
He asserted that the party would not stop filing RTI queries. “This does not stop us from filing RTIs. We will be doing so in all the districts through the deputy commissioners and not the department so that, at the very least, the DCs will be answerable to us if the departments do not reply,” he stated.